"Hey Black Child! Do you know who you are, who you really are?"

• Most of us had to learn that poem somewhere along our childhood. However, what began as a simple testament to what lies within each of us, has developed into a thought-provoking inquiry into where our true SELF lies.

• Recently I began reflecting on who I am, who I have been, and who I will become. I must say that by looking at the images of who I have been and who I am today, I can definitely say that age has improved me. I'm more mature. I'm more determined. I'm more disciplined (not evidenced by the fact that I am using this post as an opportunity to procrastinate from work). I'm more independent. I'm more patient. I'm more faithful. I'm more beautiful, and I'm even more stylish. All of these things make me love who I am today. Now that isn't to say that I'm perfect...there are always areas in which we can grow. However, I can't too much complain.

• Yet, as I began to think of who I will one day become, I struggled to form the image. I was halted by the fact that some of who I was and who I am has been circumstantial. Don't get me wrong...I think that there are parts of me that are changed for the better, and will always remain so. However, perhaps some parts of me, such as my independence (and in some ways my faith), have strengthened out of pure survival and necessity. When I no longer 'need' those traits, then will they remain the same or will the revert back to their previous hiding places?

• I hope not, as they are truly some of the best aspects of my character. Yet, this was the quandary that left me wondering...who is the REAL me? What parts of myself are ME no matter the circumstance? What does my 'authentic self' look like? Yeah, we're getting philosophical on a Monday morning :-)

• These are questions for which I don't really have answers. All that I can say, is that we each need to know the parts of ourselves that we most value and that ring the most true. Once you know the person that is most critical to your 'self' (kinda like your personal critical path, for any process improvement folks out there), then you can fight to remain grounded as that person moving forward. Think about people who say they 'lost themselves' as other situations and roles arose in their lives. Those folks got so swept up in the something new (new mate, new child, new job, etc) that they lost sight of their critical path and swayed from it.

• I cannot say what will be my future circumstances. However, I can say what will be my future ME. If nothing else, I expect the image of me 20+, 40+, 60+ years from now to look like this:

Faithful

Compassionate

Thoughtful

Disciplined

Patient

Giving

Independent

Talented

Humble

Silly

High Class

What characteristics make up your critical path?